media_artricles :: 2015

Gatlin shoots down Powell, Gay in 9.75

Justin Gatlin easily beat two big-name rivals by clocking 9.75 seconds in the 100 metres at the Athletissima Diamond League meet yesterday.

The in-form Gatlin left runner-up Asafa Powell of Jamaica trailing in 9.92, the same time as his fellow American Tyson Gay in third.

The time was 0.01 outside Gatlin’s world-leading season-best and the 2004 Olympic champion remained unbeaten over 100 since 2013.

Gatlin is increasingly looking like the man to beat at the world championships in Beijing next month as title holder Usain Bolt struggles with a leg injury.

“It’s not a message to anybody,” Gatlin said of his dominating performance. “Usain is a great opponent, so it’s on me to go out and give him the best challenge I can. Hopefully he will be healthy and ready to go for the world championships.”

Though Gay and Powell were faster out of the blocks on a breezy night, Gatlin drew ahead within 30 metres and quickly went clear.

The show impressed Gay, who took the 2007 world title after Gatlin began serving a four-year ban for doping.

“The guy has improved. He’s polished, he’s sharp,” Gay said of his US relay teammate. “He has a lot of confidence and he’s on a roll right now.”

Powell, the former world record-holder, lacked his typical fast start running in the lane to Gatlin’s left.

“I didn’t run like I should. The first part of my race was not all that great,” said Powell, whose 9.81 time at Paris last weekend puts him second in the season rankings.

Also yesterday, Olympic champion Mo Farah of Britain won the 5,000 in his first race since his American coach Alberto Salazar faced doping allegations last month.

Farah approached the finish line punching his chest twice with his right fist and waved his arms wildly as he crossed in 13:11.77.

“This victory is also a way to answer some of the critics regarding my coach that came out lately,” said Farah, who was not implicated in the allegations that Salazar has denied.

Farah was among five 2012 London Olympic gold medalists who won on Thursday, with two showing great form.

Anna Chicherova of Russia cleared a world-leading 2.03 metres in the high jump. Her third attempt at the height was nine centimetres better than her previous best jump in 2015.

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